Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/624

Rh passed irrevocably from the field of de- bate. There is an industrious and vol- uble band of hired Ananiases moving to and fro in the land whose mission it is to deny this. The burden of their song is: "The canal will never be built at Panama, and everybody connected with the enterprise, including the President and commissioners and engineers, is convinced of it." You can hear the members of this band chanting their song, to the accompaniment of their lyres, singly and in chorus, wherever men congregate and wherever a few reporters are gathered together. They are rehearsing for their grand burst of noise when Congress shall have assem- bled. When they are not rehearsing they are putting the words of their song into bogus interviews and other written forms of newspaper publication, which they are sending forth by thousands from their bureaus of publicity in this and other cities. As one contemplates the output of this singular industry, this factory of fiction, he is moved to say of its guiding spirit as Shakespeare says of Captain Dumain : " He will lie with such volubility, sir, that you would think truth were a fool."

Who is capitalizing this industry ? What is the bountiful source of this spouting spring of mendacity ? Is it to be found among the friends of an Isth- mian canal ? Are these supplying funds for the sustenance of such a campaign of misinformation ? What interests, ex- cept those foolishly dreading the com- petition of an Isthmian Canal, would put up money to delay and possibly de- feat its construction ? That there are interests of that kind is not a matter of suspicion or speculation, but of history.

They have been fighting a canal for more than half a century, and they fought it successfully till Theodore Roosevelt, armed with his " big stick," appeared as its champion. From that moment their efforts have been power- less, but they have not yet discovered the fact. They are wasting their energies and their cash, for behind Theodore Roosevelt stand the American people in solid mass and with determined front, shouting as one man:

"Give us a canal that will be adequate to meet the demands of the commerce of the world, and give it to us at the earliest possible moment." That, gen- tlemen, is the command which the Commission, under the inspiring lead of the President, is obeying to the letter. We are building the "Roosevelt Canal."

By General A. W. Greely Chief Signal Officer U. S. A.

T no time in the history of the world have the present conditions and future fortunes of Russia excited more interest and been of greater importance than today. It is therefore thought that the members of the National Geographic Society will deem timely the presentation of the various phases and aspects of Russian life as depicted in two very interesting vol-

Russia. By Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace. 111., maps, pp. xx + 672. 9^ x 6 1 / inches. New and much enlarged edition. Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1905. $5.00 net.

Russia under the Great Shadow. By Luigi Villari. 111., 330 pp. James Pott & Co. $3.50 net.